MIDDLETOIVN INSTITUTE 141 



they should not be handled before picking. The telephone 

 plays an important part in the marketing of fruit, enabling 

 the fruit grower to keep in close touch with the markets. 



In the discussion that followed, Mr. Sternberg said he 

 thought fruit growers were coming to where they were 

 willing to combine in selling their fruit products. He 

 believed in commission men, but wanted to keep in close 

 touch with his sellers ; it kept them honest. 



A movement, he said, was now on foot for the fruit 

 growers of Hartford and vicinity to co-operate in selling 

 their fruit. 



Professor Gulley favored selling through a commission 

 house in large cities, as it saved money ; but in small towns 

 it was better for the fruit grower to sell his own product 

 — direct to the retailer, or possibly to families. 



On motion of Mr. Merriman, it was voted that jail 

 sentences should be worked out in improving our highways. 

 Mr. Hale and Mr. Sternberg were nominated as delegates 

 to legislative hearings, to further this movement. 



The afternoon session opened at 1:30, with Vice-Presi- 

 dent Merriman in the chair. 



The Question Box was opened for discussion. 



Q. Is thinning apples practicable ? 



Mr. Ives : Yes ; and undoubtedly very profitable, as 

 finest fruit cannot be secured when trees are overloaded. 



Q. Is the time of the ripening of the Japanese plums 

 yet fixed ? 



Mr. Jewell: No; they are quite irregular in their time 

 of ripening. 



Q. Are wild berries better flavored than cultivated ones ? 



Mr. Ives : Strawberries left to ripen thoroughly on the 

 vines are equal to the field berries. 



In reply to a general question, it was generally conceded 

 that spraying would not kill plum curculio : the only way 

 to check its ravages is by placing sheets under the trees 

 and jarring them early each morning. This is not as slow 

 and expensive a process as at first appears. President Hale 

 jars 50,000 trees daily in his Georgia orchards at very 

 small cost. 



